Healthcare

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 2746: RELATING TO TAXATION.

SB 2746 creates an income tax credit for individuals covering medical travel costs not paid by insurance, such as trips to specialists or treatments outside their local area. This directly affects people with significant out-of-pocket medical travel expenses who lack insurance coverage for those costs. The credit is set to expire on January 1, 2031, as it includes a sunset provision. The bill was introduced on January 23, 2026, and has advanced to committee referral.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates income tax credit for medical travel costs, providing tax relief to lower/middle-income individuals with out-of-pocket medical expenses.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates tax credit for uncovered medical travel costs, directly improving patient access to specialists/treatments outside local area and expanding coverage for out-of-pocket expenses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax Tax Credits Insurance

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 107: RELATING TO MEDICAL INFORMED CONSENT.

Requires the Hawaii Medical Board to establish standards for health care providers to ensure that a patient's consent to treatment is an informed consent. Requires that informed consent for a proposed medical or surgical treatment or a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure shall be obtained before the day of that treatment or procedure. Specifies that if the treatment or procedure is to occur on the same day it is scheduled, the informed consent shall be obtained at the time the decision is made to schedule that treatment or procedure.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires informed consent standards to protect patient rights and safety before medical procedures, strengthening patient-centered healthcare practices.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 593: RELATING TO TREATMENT FOR MENTAL ILLNESS.

Establishes a pilot program in the Department of Health to provide intensive mobile treatment-type services, e.g., "street psychiatry", to chronically houseless adult individuals suffering from serious brain disorders like schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes mental health mobile treatment pilot with funding, directly expanding access to care for vulnerable populations with serious brain disorders.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 897: RELATING TO THE NURSE LICENSURE COMPACT.

Authorizes the Governor to enter the State into a multistate Nurse Licensure Compact that will allow a nurse who is licensed by a home state to practice under a multistate licensure privilege in each party state. Beginning 7/1/20 , requires each person who holds a multistate nurse license issued by another state and is employed by a health care facility to complete annual demographic data surveys. Authorizes the State Board of Nursing to charge different fees for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses who hold a multistate license issued by the State. Provides that the Nurse Licensure Compact shall become effective and binding in the State two years after the Act takes effect.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables cross-state nurse practice under compact, improving healthcare access and provider mobility without restrictions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 553: RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Beginning 1/1/2026, requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, health maintenance organizations, and health plans under the State's Medicaid managed care program to provide coverage for biomarker testing. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurers and Medicaid plans to cover biomarker testing, expanding diagnostic access and strengthening coverage requirements under health insurance regulations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1203: RELATING TO COGNITIVE ASSESSMENTS.

Requires all health care providers who accept Medicare to provide a cognitive assessment as part of the Medicare Part B annual wellness visit for Medicare beneficiaries sixty-five years of age or older, with certain exceptions. Requires health care providers to submit certain information to the Executive Office on Aging and the Executive Office on Aging to report de-identified aggregated data to the Legislature on an annual basis. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates funds for cognitive assessment program and data reporting, directly funding a state healthcare initiative under fiscal management.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates cognitive assessments for Medicare beneficiaries, appropriates funds for implementation, and requires data reporting to improve dementia care access and program evaluation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 221: RELATING TO MEDICAL SCHOOL TUITION.

Requires graduates of the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine who have paid in-state tuition to serve as a physician in the State for at least 2 years following their medical residency or fellowship. Begins with the class of 2029.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires JABSOM graduates to serve as state physicians, ensuring local healthcare workforce and improving access to medical services.85% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 215: RELATING TO MEDICAL INFORMED CONSENT.

Requires the Hawaii Medical Board to establish standards for health care providers to ensure that a patient's consent to treatment is an informed consent. Requires that informed consent for a proposed medical or surgical treatment or a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure shall be obtained before the day of that treatment or procedure. Specifies that if the treatment or procedure is to occur on the same day it is scheduled, the informed consent shall be obtained at the time the decision is made to schedule that treatment or procedure.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates informed consent standards to protect patient rights in medical treatments, aligning with 'protects patient rights' indicator.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 37: RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, requires all public and private schools that serve students in grades 6 through 12 and issue student identification cards to have information on mental health and suicide prevention hotlines printed on the student identification cards. Establishes exceptions and penalties.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires mental health/suicide prevention info on student IDs in K-12 schools, supporting student well-being and school safety protocols.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires schools to include mental health/suicide prevention hotlines on student IDs, directly expanding access to critical mental health resources for students.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Mental Health

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 480: RELATING TO HEALTH.

Prohibits drug manufacturers and wholesale distributors from restricting or denying access for pharmacies contracted with 340B covered entities to purchase 340B drugs at a discounted price under the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program. Imposes civil penalties for engaging in unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects 340B program access for pharmacies, ensuring discounted drug prices for covered entities and improving patient affordability and access to medications.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

Track